5. Brodie Retallick – Kobelco Kobe Steelers
Sam Whitelock’s long-time partner in the All Blacks second row, Retallick and Whitelock had one last run together in the closing stages of the Rugby World Cup Final. Whitelock made a 55th minute replacement appearance for Shannon Frizzell, and packed down the scrum with Retallick for a handful of drives. The Chiefs man then departed for Dalton Papali’i, and received a resounding ovation for his final All Blacks match with nine minutes left on the clock.
Retallick joins Whitelock, Smith and Coles in the quartet of international retirees, having enjoyed an eleven year run in the famous black jersey. Retallick ends his international career as an All Blacks centurion, with a total of 109 test match appearances for New Zealand. The defining moment of the Retallick-Whitelock partnership came in the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final, with both men running out for 80-minute matches in the iconic 34-17 win over the Wallabies.
This will be Retallick’s second run with the Kobelco Kobe Steelers, having previously taken a sabbatical season in Japan throughout the 2020/21 Super Rugby Aotearoa season. Retallick made 15 appearances and scored nine tries in his first run in the Far East, and returns to Kobe for his second stint at the Noevir Stadium. Retallick leaves New Zealand as a legend of the North Island, as he represented the Chiefs since 2012, and his Hawke’s Bay province since 2010. Retallick became a Super Rugby champion in his first season with the Chiefs, and followed this up with a back-to-back triumph in 2013. He was then named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2014, after a stunning run of form.
6. Richie Mo’unga – Toshiba Brave Lupus
Newly appointed All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson will be sad to see Richie Mo’unga depart, as the former Crusaders boss knows all too well the talents of the fly-half. Robertson and Mo’unga dominated the Super Rugby landscape together, as the duo won seven variations of the competition dating back to 2017. Mo’unga and Robertson ushered in the glory days for the Crusaders, as the Super Rugby title was back in Christchurch for the first time since 2008, and has not yet left.
However, Mo’unga is in-fact set to leave the Crusaders, with his move to Toshiba Brave Lupus finalised for the 2023/24 Japan Rugby League One season. This will be Mo’unga’s first venture outside of the Canterbury region of New Zealand’s South Island, as he came through the ranks in the Canterbury Provincial side, before making his Crusaders debut in 2016. Mo’unga went on to accrue a stunning 1,227 points for the Crusaders, and he holds the record for most conversions in one season, with 41 in his debut campaign.
Unlike previous top Super Rugby stars taking one-year sabbaticals to Japan, Mo’unga has committed his long-term future to Toshiba Brave Lupus. The 29-year-old has agreed a three-year deal with the Tokyo side, which rules him out an All Blacks return until at least 2026. Should Mo’unga opt to return to New Zealand at the end of his contract, he may well push towards a spot in the 2027 Rugby World Cup squad, as he would enter the latter stage of his career at 32. It’s difficult to say whether Mo’unga has played his last match for the All Blacks, but if he has, the halfback finishes with 56 test caps and a total of 466 points.